Jan. 26 (UPI) — Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald praised quarterback Sam Darnold for “one of the best performances in playoff history” after winning the NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Macdonald lauded the veteran quarterback — who led the Seahawks to a fourth Super Bowl appearance — in his postgame news conference Sunday in Seattle. Darnold completed 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards, three scores and no interceptions in the Seahawks’ 31-27 triumph. He totaled 209 yards in the first half and threw two touchdown tosses in the third quarter.
Darnold, who played his third consecutive game without a turnover, started despite limited participation all week in practice due to his lingering oblique injury.
“To come out the way he played, barely practicing, barely throwing the ball, it was really incredible,” Macdonald told reporters. “It should go down as one of the best performances in playoff history, I would imagine.
“It’s hard to stack it, but I can’t imagine anybody playing any better.”
WHAT. A. TOUCHDOWN. @CooperKupp
: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/bSecQevGBf— xz* – Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 26, 2026
Darnold said he felt good after the game and wasn’t concerned about losing timing with his playmakers due to the repetitions accrued throughout the regular season.
“Just our entire offense has been clicking,” Darnold said. “I think you can kind of see that with the way we play.”
The Rams out-gained the Seahawks 479-396 in total yards, but converted just 1 of 8 third down conversions. Darnold’s Seahawks converted 7 of 13 third down opportunities. The Rams and Seahawks combined for 50 first downs and 720 passing yards.
Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Darnold’s top target, totaled 10 catches for 153 yards and a score. Fellow Seahawks wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Jake Bobo hauled in Darnold’s other touchdown tosses.
The Seahawks used a 7-play, 81-yard drive to put the first points on the board five minutes into regulation. Running back Kenneth Walker ran for a 2-yard score to end that possession.
MORE BOBO: NFC CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION
: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/JonF3TenK9— xz* – Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 26, 2026
Rams kicker Harrison Mevis answered with a 50-yard field goal 2:49 into the second quarter. Quarterback Matthew Stafford helped the Rams take their first lead with a 9-yard touchdown pass to running back Kyren Williams about two minutes before halftime.
Darnold connected with Smith-Njigba for a 14-yard score just before the break to help the Seahawks take a 17-13 lead at halftime.
The Rams muffed a punt to start the second half. Just seconds later, Darnold threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Bobo.
But Stafford proceeded to march the Rams back to the end zone on the next drive. That 2-yard touchdown pass to Davante Adams — paired with an extra point — cut the deficit to four.
End zone had his name on it all drive long. @jaxon_smith1
: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/eMyG4bHgei— xz* – Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 26, 2026
Darnold and Stafford exchanged blows two more times down the stretch to settle the NFC title game. Darnold threw a 13-yard score to Kupp with about 4:52 remaining in the third quarter. Stafford found Puka Nacua with a 34-yard touchdown strike less than three minutes later, but the Rams didn’t score again.
The Seahawks defense stopped Stafford and the Rams offense twice down the stretch to secure their Super Bowl ticket. Stafford completed 22 of 35 passes for 374 yards, three scores and no interceptions. Nacua caught nine passes for 165 yards and a score.
The Seahawks (16-3) will meet the New England Patriots (17-3) in Super Bowl LX at 6:30 p.m. EST Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, Calif.
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